Report | Millwall 0 Swansea City 3

Swansea City made it back-to-back wins in the Championship with a 3-0 victory over Millwall at The Den.

Jamal Lowe put the Swans ahead from the penalty spot in the first half, before Matt Grimes doubled the lead midway through the second with a shot from distance.

The Swans didn’t have it all their own way and some inspired goalkeeping from Carl Rushworth kept Millwall out in the second period, before substitute Mykola Kuharevich rounded off an excellent showing on the road when he headed in from Josh Key’s cross.

Michael Duff made three enforced changes to the side who lined up against Sheffield Wednesday last time out.

Kristian Pedersen (groin), Nathan Wood (ankle) and Josh Ginnelly (achilles) were all ruled out with the latter two set for significant spells on the sidelines.

This handed starts to Harry Darling, Bashir Humphreys and Jerry Yates.

It was a confident start from the Swans, who dominated the early possession and dictated the pace of the game without creating any clear cut chances.

At the other end, Millwall fashioned some half-chances. Kevin Nisbet put two headers wide of the mark while Ben Cabango, Charlie Patino and Jamal Lowe blocked efforts by Ryan Longman, Zian Flemming and Murray Wallace.

Duncan Watmore went the closest in the opening period for the home side when he was slid in to the by-line but his effort from a narrow angle was well saved by Carl Rushworth.

The Swans took the lead midway through the first half after a 40-move pass saw them play through the thirds before a ball was played into Yates at the edge of the box. He turned defender Jake Cooper who grabbed a handful of the strikers shirt pulling him down in the box.

After a consultation with his assistant referee, John Busby pointed to the spot and Lowe coolly converted.

And Lowe had an opportunity to double the lead shortly after. A near-perfect cross-field pass from Cabango found the run of the Bournemouth loanee – he chested the ball into the box with his first touch and tried to chip the keeper with his second, bringing an excellent save from Bartosz Bialkowski.

Nisbet fired over after a smart corner routine found him free in the Swans box, before Liam Cullen linked up with Yates to release Jamie Paterson in behind the defence – but he fired straight at the keeper.

Michael Duff made a change at the break with Yates replaced by Kuharevich, while Millwall also made two changes.

The hosts made a good start to the second half. Rushworth was called into action early when substitute Joe Bryan made a driving run down the left and whipped a ball across the face of goal, and Watmore fired over from the edge of the box.

But the Swans extended their lead ten minutes into the second half, when Grimes was given space 20 yards out. He lined up a left footed shot which skipped up off the turf and got the better of Bialkowski.

The home side probably should have got one back before the hour mark. Nisbet teed up Watmore at the edge of the six yard box, but the Millwall forward didn’t get enough power on it and Rushworth made another fine stop.

The Lions continued to press, but the Swans defenders were doing well to force the home side into wayward crosses and off-target shots.

But Rushworth was needed twice in quick succession. He did brilliantly to tip Ryan Leonard’s dipping, swerving effort from distance over the bar, before somehow keeping Nisbet’s close range effort out.

And with ten minutes remaining, the Swans extended their lead further.

Lowe went on a driving run, drawing defenders and slipping the ball to Key whose first time cross was headed in by Kuharevich at the back post.

Swansea City: Carl Rushworth, Josh Key, Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Matt Grimes (captain), Jerry Yates (Mykola Kuharevich 46’), Jamal Lowe, Jamie Paterson (Josh Tymon 62’), Charlie Patino (Jay Fulton 70’), Liam Cullen (Ollie Cooper 78’), Bashir Humphreys.

Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Kyle Naughton, Liam Walsh, Harrison Ashby, Cameron Congreve.

Millwall: Bartosz Bialkowski, Murray Wallace (Danny McNamara 81’), Jake Cooper (captain), Kevin Nisbet, Zian Flemming, Ryan Longman (Joe Bryan 46’), Allan Campbell (Aidomo Emakhu 70’), Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Romain Esse 46’), Ryan Leonard, Duncan Watmore, Casper De Norre.

Substitutes: Connal Trueman, Wes Harding, George Saville, Billy Mitchell, George Honeyman.